Can sealing machine



Nov. 16, 1943. J; E. socKE CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet l INVEIEZEDR Jwm a.

AAA m2 ATTORNEYS J. E. SOCKE CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941Nov. 16, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1943. J. E. SOCKE 2,334,224

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. M, 1943.J. E. SOCKE CAN SEALING MACHINE 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 12, 1941INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N 16, 1943. J. ESQCKE I CAN SEALING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Fild Aug. 12, 1941 II/JW/ ATTORNEYS ?atent ecl Nov. 16,1943' CA'N SEALING 'MACHINE John E. Sooke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., asslgnorto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation 01' New JerseyApplication August 12, 1941, Serial No. 406,565

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to container or can sealing machines andhas particular reference to applying a sealing strip or. tape to a canor container.

In the packaging of certain products it is sometimes desirable .to useslip cover sheet metal cans so that the can may be easily opened andreadily closed when the contents are not used at one time. sealed inplace by the application of a sealing strip, tape or the likesuch asCellophane or other similar material.

The instant invention contemplates a machine Such slip covers aresometimes for applying the sealing strip to the cans and I for forming aloose tab on the outer end of the strip so that the latter may bereadily removed when it is desired to open the can.

An object therefore of the invention is the pro-,-

vision of acan sealing machine wherein a sealing strip, tape or the likeis applied to a slip cover can to form a seal between the can body andits cover to seal the can for storage and shipment.

Another object is the provision of such a can sealing machine wherein aloose tab is formed on an end of the sealing strip so that the lattermay be readily removedwhen it is desired to open the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment.

thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sealing machine embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the machine starting mechanism showingthe moving parts in different positions, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line4-4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away, and showing a can in place to besealed with a tape; I

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged detail side elevation as viewed substantiallyalong a plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 inF144, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 'l-'l inFig. 6, with parts broken away;

Figs. 8, 9 andIO are enlarged fragmentary 55 schematic views showingvarious steps of cutting off the tape as it is being wound'on a can andalso showing bending it back to form a removing tab;

Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing how the tape is wound in sealingposition on a can;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the tape windingwheel used in the machine;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a portion of the outer periphery ofthe tape winding wheel;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the tape cut-oil knife andtab forming finger used in the machine; and I Fig. 15 is a perspectiveView of a sheet metal can having a cover sealed in place by tape appliedby the machine of the instant invention.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawingsillustrate a machine for sealing a sheet metal can A (Fig. 15) having aremovable slip cover 3, with a sealing tape C which has one side coatedwith a suitable 'addisclosed in United States Patent 1,954,568, issuedApril 10, 1934, to W. J. Kenny on Container.

The tape preferably is of the character known as Cellophane" althoughother suitable tapes also may be used. l

In the machine the tape C is taken from a supply roll D, (Fig. 11) ofsuch tape and is guided into place onto the cam A by a rotatablehorizontally disposed applying or winding wheel E over whicn the tape,passes. A can A to be sealed is placed adjacent the applying wheel andas the wheel rotates it wraps the tape around the can, cuts the tape offat the proper time and folds thecut 01? end of thetape back on itself toprovide a loose tab F which may be readily gripped to remove the tapewhen it is desired to open the can.

A can A to be sealed is placed in the machine manually and is removedfrom the machine in the same manner after sealing. The can is receii edin an upright position on a yieldable disc ll (Fig, 4) located in arotatable table I2, supported on a vertical shaft I3 carried in abearing 14 formed in a frame I5 which constitutes the main frame of themachine.

The disc II is disposed in a recess l8 in the top of the table l2 and isbacked up by compres: sion springs is located in sockets 20 in thetable. The disc is retained in place by studs 2| which are fixed in thedisc and which extend downcentrally of the springs and through holes 22in the bottom of the table. These studs carry locknuts 23 on their lowerends to limit the vertical travel of the disc.

The can A is clamped in place on the table I2 by a clamping head 23having an annular recessed step 23 which engages over the cover B on thecan and which locates the can in the head. The head is mounted forrotation on the lower end of a stem 3| carried in a bearing 32 of asub-frame 33 which is formed on the main frame I and which extendsupwardly adjacent the can. A setscrew 33 in the bearing extends into agroove 33 in the stem and thus prevents rotation of the stem.

The upper end of the clamp head stem 3| extends into a recess 4| in thebearing 32 and is surrounded by a compression spring 42. The springpresses upwardly against a collar 43 secured on the end of the stem. Thespring thus normally holds the clamp head 28 in raised position and awayfrom the can so that the latter may be placed on and removed from thetable I2.

However, when the head is in clamping position on the can, it is helddown by an annular cam 45. The cam is formed on a disc 43 which isretained in a seat 41, in the top of the bearing 32, by means of a ring43 which overlaps the disc and which is bolted to the hearing. The discis formed with an upright shank 5| which carries an operating handle 52(see also Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

The cam 45 is formed with a bevel face 55 which normally engages againsta bevel face 53 on the collar 43 of the stem 32. Hence when the handle52 is turned from its normal position in Fig. 1, to the position shownin Fig. 2, it rotates the cam 45 relative to the collar 43. This camthereupon rides up onto the collar and depresses the latter and its stem3| and this moves the head 23 down into clamping position on the can, asshown in Fig. 4. v

The tape applying wheel E is located adjacent the can A to be sealed andis disposed in a horizontal position in a plane which passes through theterminal edge of the can cover B. The wheel is mounted on a verticalshaft 3| (Fig. 4) carried in a bearing 32 in the main frame I5 and in abearing 33 in the sub-frame 33. t

The wheel E and the table I2 are rotated in unison by an endless drivechain 35 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) The chain operates over a sprocket 33 whichis keyed to the lower end of the table shaft I3. From this sprocket thechain extends around an applying wheel sprocket 31 which is keyed to afixed disc 33 of a slip clutch 33 mounted on the lower end of theapplying wheel shaft 3|. The disc 33 frictionally engages against adriving disc 1| which is keyed to the applying wheel shaft. A

compression spring 12 is interposed between the driving disc 1| and apair of collars 13 on the shaft and maintains the discs 33, 1| infrictional driving engagement.

From the applying wheel shaft sprocket 31, the drive chain 35 extendsaround a drive sprocket 15 which is mounted on a motor shaft 13 of adriving motor 11. The driving chain 35 also operates over a timingsprocket 3| mounted on a stud 32 secured in a boss 33 depending from thebottom of the main frame I5. This completes the path of travel of thechain.

The machine is started and stopped for each can to be sealed, themachine remaining in operation for only one cycle and automaticallystopping at the end of the cycle. Starting of the machine is effected bya one revolution clutch device 3I which is tripped by way of the handle32 and upon the same stroke that clamps the can in position for sealing.

The clutch device 3| includes a horizontal slide member 32 (Figs. 1, 2,3 and 4) which slides in a slideway 33 located between the handle 32 andthe applying wheel shaft 3|. The slideway is formed by gibs 34 bolted tothe top of the subframe 33.

The end of the slide 32 nearest the applying wheel shaft 3| is formedwith a latch hook 33 which normally engages a pawl 31, as best shown inFig. 1. This engagement is maintained by a compression spring 33 (Fig.4) which is disposed in a groove in the bottom of the slide. The springis interposed between the slide at one end of the groove and a pin 33which extends up into the groove from the sub-frame 33. The pawl 31projects from a recess I3I formed in a collar I32 keyed to the upper endof the wheel shaft. The pawl is also mounted on a pivot pin I33 securedin the collar.

The opposite end of the slide 32 carries an operating pin I33 whichprojects upwardly into the path of travel of an operating finger plate|31 (see also Fig. 5) carried on a pivot stud I33 threaded into a lugI33 on the handle 52. The finger plate is held against a stop ledge IIIin the lug I33 by a spring barrel 2 in the lug so that the finger canswing in only one direction on its pivot stud.

Hence when the handl 52 is shifted from its position in Fig. 1 to clampthe can-in the machine, the, finger plate I31 engages a side of theoperating pin I33 of the slide 32 and thus draws the slide outwardlyagainst the resistance of the spring 33, as shown in Fig. 2. Thismovement of the slide shifts its latch hook 33 away from the pawl 31 andhence releases it. This permits a compression spring H5 in the collarI32 to press the released pawl forward in its recess I3I where it is outof alignment with the hook 33 on the slide.

Continued movement of the handle 52 in the same direction shifts thefinger plate I31 out of engagement with the operating pin I33 in theslide 32 and this permits the spring 33 to return the slide inwardly..However, this return of the extreme position, operates an electricstart switch I2I which controls the'starting of the electric motoractuating the machine. This is brought about by a projection or buttonI22 on the finger plate pivot stud I33 which engages and shifts a bellcrank I23 mounted on a pivot stud I24 secured in the sub-frame 33adjacent the switch The bell crank I23 normally is maintained in oneposition under pressure of a compression spring I23 interposed betweenone of the slide gibs 34 and a lug I21 on the bell crank. A setscrew I23in one leg of the crank limits the inward travel of crank. while asetscrew I23 in the other leg engages against the movable element of theelectric switch I2 I This actuation of the electric switch I2I and thestarting of the electric motor 11 rotates the table I2 through the drivechain 35. This carries the can A and turns the shaft 3|, and. itsapplymg wheel E in unison through one revolution of the wheel. It isduring this revolution f the wheel E and this circular travel of the canA, that the latter is sealed by the application of the tape 0, as willbe hereinafter explained. The y bearing 63 in the sub-frame 33. One endof the rotation of the wheel shaft revolves the collar I02 and its pawl91 and when the wheelhas completed it single revolution, the pawl againengages .the latch hook 96 on the slide 92. This v stops the rotation ofthe applying wheel E and I its shaft 6I.

It will be understood that a conventionalelectrical circuit will be usedfor maintaining electri-' cal energy in the electric motor 11 until theentire cycle of operation is completed. The handle 52 therefore need beheld in the position shown in Fig. '3 only momentarily. The release of.the handle under the action of the spring I26 immediately opens theswitch I2I, the handle assuming the position of Fig. 2. Following thisthe holding circuit provides for the full cycle of operation. L

Simultaneously with the engaging of the pawl 91 and the latch hook 96 onthe slide 92, the electric motor 11 stops. This is brought about'by acam projection I3I on the timing sprocket 8| (Figs. 6 and 7). At the'completionof a machine cycle this projection engages and lifts avertically disposed pin I32 carried in a boss I33 on the main frame I5.The upper end of the pin'engages and shifts a rocker plate I35 mountedon a pivot pin I36 carried in a bracket I31 secured to the main frame.The rocker plate engages and presses in a. movable element of anelectric stop switch I38 secured to the main frame and it is theoperation of this switch that'cuts out the motor and thus stops furtheractuation of the machine.

Upon the stopping of the machine, the handle 52 is shifted back manuallyinto its original position (Fig. 1), in order to prepare for againstart.- ing thenext cycle. In shifting back to this position, the fingerplate I01 (Fig. 5) rides over the operating pin I06 of the slide 92against the resistance of the spring barrel H2. The dotted outline inFig. 5 of the finger plate. dis.- closes this returning position of theplate. The return shift of the handle also unclamps the can A so that itmay be removed from the machine. Sealing of the can A by the tape C,while the machine is in operation, now will be explained. It will beremembered that the tape is unwound from a supply roll D. This supplyroll is carried on a reel I4I (Figs. 1 and 11) mounted on a pin I42disposed in a bearing bracket I43 bolted to a side of the sub-frame 33.A horizontal platform I44 secured to the side of the sub-frame peripheryof the wheel is formed with a plurality v of elongated vertical slots I55 (Figs. '12 and 13) which communicate with radial bores I56. in thewheel. The bores I56 communicate with short vertical holes I51 whichopen into a main vacuum groove I58 formed in a stationary plate I59seating against the top of the applying wheel.

The plate I59 is held against rotation with f the wheel by a rod I6I anda pipe I62 (Figs. 4 and 11) which are anchored in the plate and whichextend up into bosses I63 formedon a .holdingmember I64 bolted to thebottom of the pipe I62 communicates with the main groove I58 and itsopposite end leads from a suitable source or supply of vacuum.

The main vacuumgroove I58 is curved as best shownin Fig. 1.1 and extendssubstantially halfway around the. plate 36 in which it is formed. Thegroove begins in line with a place where the where the tape is appliedto a wheel as it is drawn off the reel.

The tape thus held on the applying wheel E, is carried around with thewheel toward the can resilient insert "I which is secured in a recessI12 in the wheel and which projects'slightly beyondthe periphery of thewheel. This insert is made preferably of rubber and is formed with holesI13 which communicate with the radially disposed vacuum bores I56 sothat the tape will be held in place against the rubber by the vacuumdrawn through the bores.

When the wheel E and the can commence rothe rubber insert I1I comesadjacent the can and presses the forward end of the tape Cagainst thecan so thatit covers the terminal edge of the cover B. The side of thetape which engages the can is the side that carries the adhesive andhence the tape sticks to the can. As the wheel and the can continue torotate in unison the tape is wrapped around the can so that itcompletely encircles it once with a slight lap-over. A pressure rollerI15 (Figs. 1 and 11) presses the tape against the can as it is appliedand this insures a tighter seal. This roller may be made of soft rubberor other resilient material and will press the tape firmly against thecan wall regardless of slight irregularities in the wall surface. In thedrawings the body wall isshown as being beaded and the cover is curled.Such a roller is mounted on a pivot pin I16 carried in a bracket I11secured to the sub-frame 33.

Near the completion of this wrapping of the tape C around the can, thetape is cut while still on the wheel so that just sufficient tape isobtained to peripherally encircle the can. The desired length of tape ismeasured on the circumference of the wheel which is of the properdiameter to fit the tape to the can being sealed. The cutting isperformed adjacent the forward edge of the rubber insert I H and iseffected by a cutoff device I8I (Fig. 14) located adjacent the insert.

The cut off device I8I includes a slide I82 (Figs. 4, 8 and 14) which isdisposed in a radial slideway I83 formed in the-applying wheel Eadjacent the rubber insert Ill. The outer end of the slide carries aradially disposed cut-off knife I85 having a serrated cut-off edge I86.Adjacent the knife the slide carries a tab forming finger I88 having apair of spaced hinge lugs I89 which straddle a lug I9I in the slide. Thefinger is mounted on a vertical pivot pin or pintle I92 which extendsthrough the lugs I89, I9I and is tape first engages the wheel andterminates in' tating through a cycle, as hereinbefore explained,

secured in the slide lug I9I. The finger is retained under tension of aspring I94 which is coiled around the pivot pin. One end of the springis secured in the pin while the opposite end is fastened in the fingerso that the finger will tend to move toward the right as viewed in thedrawings.

As this cut-off device II is carried around with the wheel, it ismaintained in a retracted position within the wheel by a cam roller I96which is carried on a pin I91 fixed in the bottom of the slide I82. Theroller operates in a cam groove I98 of a stationary horizontal face camI99 disposed directly below the applying wheel and secured to thesubframe 33,

Near the completion of a cycle of the rotating wheel and as the cut-offdevice moves toward the y can being sealed, the cam I99 shifts the slideoutwardly, as shown in Fig. 8. This outward movement forces the serratedknife I85 through the tape C and thus cuts it through. The cut-ofl rearend of the tape is still held to the wheel by the vacuum.

The slide I82 continues to move outwardly under the action of the camI99. The tab forming finger I88 at that time is held against turningthrough its spring I94, by a pin 28I, which is mounted on and whichextend downwardly from the finger, coming into engagement with astationary edge cam section 282. This edge cam section is formed on theperiphery of. the cam its attendantadvantages will be understoodfrom theforegoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being I99.Thepin and the cam thus hold the finger against turning while the slideand finger continue to move radially outwardly, This radial movementpushes out the cut-off end of the tape v C, as shown in Fig. 9.

When the slide I82 is fully out, i. e., at the moment it reaches the endof its outwardlyradial movement, the pin 28I passes beyond and abruptlyrides oil? the edge cam section 282. This permits the spring I94 torotate the finger toward the right, as viewed in the drawings, whichmovement of the finger folds the pushed-out end of the tape rearwardlyupon itself against the outer periphery of the wheel as in Fig. 10. Thisbrings the adhesive coated surfaces of the tape into engagement thusproducing the tab F which is of sufilcient length to be gripped easilyby the fingers.

Immediately following this tab forming operation, continued rotation ofthe wheel E passes the slide member cam roller I95 along an inwardlymoving parts of the machine in the proper position for the commencementof the next sealing operation. This also leaves the tab F adhesivelyfree of and projecting slightly outwardly from the can A. The can isthen removed from the machine.

It will be evident, by reference to Fig. 15, that the tab F is in theproper position for convenient manual engagement to pull the tape offthe can, when it is desired to open the latter. Thisis done by strippingoff the tape which is thus removed as an integral unit. The disengagedslip cover B may thenbe opened as in the instance of the usual slipclosure can of the nature illustrated.

It is thought that the invention and many of merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

-I claim:

1. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, an applying wheel adjacent the containerand carrying a tape to be applied to the container, instrumentalities onsaid wheel for cutting off a predetermined length of the tape, anddevices for rotating said wheel in time with said means so that the tapewill be transferred from the wheel to the container. I 2. In a machinefor applying a tape to a container, the combination of means forrotating 9. container, an applying wheel adjacent the container andcarrying a tape to be applied to the container, elements on said wheelfor forming a tab on the tail end of said tape, and devices for rotatingsaid wheel in time with said means so 2 that the tape will betransferred from the wheel to the container.

3. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, devices adjacent said container forapplying a tape thereto while it rotates, and elements for forming atabon the tail end of the tape so that the tape may be readily removed fromthe container when desired.

4. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a ting through the tape carried on the wheel to setoff a predetermined length thereof, and devices for rotating said wheelin time with said means so that the tape will be transferred from thewheel to the container.

5. In a machine for applying a tape to a con-- tainer, the combinationof means for rotating a container, an applying wheel adjacent thecontainer and carrying on its periphery a tape.to be applied. to thecontainer, a radial slide in said wheel, a cam for actuating said slidein timed relation with the wheel, a knife on said slide for cutting thetape so that a predetermined length, -will be applied to the container,a spring held finger on said slide for turning back on itself the tailend of the cut-off tape to provide a loose tab for removing the tapefrom the container when desired, and devices for rotating said wheel intime with said means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheelto the container.

6. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, a clamp head for clamping the containerin position on said rotating means, an

strumentalities simultaneously to set said container rotating means andsaid wheel in motion.

7. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, an applying wheel disposed adjacent thecontainer and carrying a strip of tape to be applied to the container,means for supp y ng said tape strip to said wheel devices for rotatingsaid wheel in time with said rotating means so that the tape will betransferred from the wheel to the container and means carried by saidwheel for severing a length of tape during its transfer from said wheelto said container.

8. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacentthe container and having a plurality of openings in its peripheryconnecting with passageways leading from a source of vacuum forretaining on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container,devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotatingmeans so that the tapewill be transferred from the wheel to thecontainer, and means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing alength of tape therefrom during application of the tape to saidcontainer.

9. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacentthe container and having a plurality of openings in its peripheryconnecting with passageways leading from a source of vacuum forretaining on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, valvmeans disposed between said passageways and the source of vacuum forcutting off the vacuum from the passageways as they come into positionadjacent the container to free the tape from the wheel, devices forrotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so thatthe tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container, and meanscarried by said tape applying wheel for severing a 10. In a machine forapplying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating acontainer, a tape applying'wheel disposed adjacent the container andcarrying on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, meanson said wheel for bringing an end of said tape into engagement with thecontainer, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said containerrotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel tothe container, and means carried by said tape applying wheel forsevering a length of tape therefrom during such transfer length of tapetherefrom during such transfer,

and application of the tape to said container.

11. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacentthe container and carrying on its periphery a tape to be applied to thecontainer, a resilient insert in the periphery of the wheel for pressingthe forward end, of the tape against the container, devices for rotatingsaid wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tapewill be transferred from the wheel to the container, and

means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing a length of tapetherefrom during such transfer and application of the tape to saidcontainer.

12. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination ofmeans for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacentthe container and carrying a tape to be applied to the container,devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotatingmeans so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to thecontainer, a one revolution clutch for controlling the rotation of saidapplying wheel for a single tape applying cycle, and cutting meanscarried by said applying wheel for severing a length of tape therefromduring such transfer and application of the tape to said container,wherebya predetermined length of tape is applied to said container.

JOHN E. SOCKE.

